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CHRIST'S CONDESCENSION TO CHILDREN.

bought her a box full of large beads, and toys of the same kind. When I returned home, I opened the treasure and set it before her. She burst into tears with extacy..-" These, my child," said I, "are yours, because you believed me, when I told you it would be better for you to throw those two or three paltry beads behind the fire. Now that has brought you this treaBut now, my dear, remember, as long as you live, what FAITH is. I did all this to teach you the meaning of Faith. You threw your beads away when I bade you, because you had faith in me, that I never advised you but for your good. Put the same confidence in God. Believe every thing that he says in his word. Whether you understand it or not, have faith in him that he means your good."

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CHRIST'S CONDESCENSION AND KINDNESS TO

CHILDREN.

YOUNG children were brought to Christ," that he should put his hands on them and pray," or impart to them a portion of those spiritual benefits of which he had shown himself to be possessed. This indicated a laudable concern on the part of the parents, for the best interests of their offspring; and is worthy of being imitated by all who would be faithful to their parental obligations. But, we are told, "the disciples rebuked those that brought the children." They thought it beneath the dignity of Christ to concern himself about creatures of so little apparent consideration in the world. They conceived that such intrusions might prove troublesome to him, and encourage others, with as little or with less pretension, to claim his notice and interrupt his progress. And they were afraid that by this means his estimation might be lessened, his temper irritated, and his usefulness impaired. In all this, however, they were greatly mistaken. They misundertood the mind and character of Christ-the object of s mission-and the governing principle of his life. e came to do good; and every opportunity of doing

CHRIST'S CONDESCENSION TO CHILDREN.

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good was precious to him. As the highest of the people were not above the need of his beneficence, so the meanest and most insignificant of them were not beneath his notice and his kindness. And, accordingly, "he was much displeased"-displeased because the disciples would not only have prevented him from doing the particular act of kindness for which he was solicited, by blessing the children and gratifying the parents, but, at the same time, given a general view of him that was equally inconsistent with truth, and injurious in its consequences. He, therefore," said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God." He told them that these little ones were not to be despisednot to be rejected-not to be regarded as of little consequence in the moral world; that they were rather to meet with a gracious, encouraging reception; that they were fit objects of divine solicitude; that they were capable of receiving the benefits which he had come to bestow; that they were admissible not only to the outward privileges of the Gospel, but also to its inward, spiritual, saving effects; and that while none who did not resemble them could be subjects of his kingdom of grace upon earth, so there were many of them that were heirs of his kingdom of glory in heaven. He thus intimated to his church in every age, that children, be they ever so young, are to be taken to the Saviour, to be committed into his hands, to be commended to his blessing, to be devoted to his service. Having spoken in this manner, he took the young children up in his arms-embracing them, as an expression of that tender affection with which his bosom glowed towards these lambs of his flock :-He "laid his hands upon them," as preparatory to the benediction that he was going to pronounce, according to the custom which was practised by those who stood in a superior relation, when they prayed for a blessing on the young, and of which we find an instance so long ago as the time of Israel, who laid his hands upon the heads of Ephraim and Manasseh, when he was about to bless them:-And having observed this ceremony, "he blessed" the children; he recommended them with

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AFFECTION TO PARENTS REWARDED.

pious solemnity and heartfelt affection to the favour of Almighty God, and procured for them that which far surpassed the highest distinctions of the world, and fitted them for the inheritance of the saints in light. "He said, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. And he took them up in his arms, and laid his hands upon them, and blessed them!"—" O most compassionate and condescending Saviour," every good and pious child will say on reading these words, "make me the object of thy love; let thy richest blessings descend upon me; teach me to love thee as I ought to love so gracious a Redeemer; enable me to speak thy praise, and to do thy will, so long as I am continued in the world; and at last permit me to be with thee where thou art, that I may enjoy thy presence, and behold thy glory."

ANECDOTE.-AFFECTION TO PARENTS REWARDED.

FREDERICK, the late king of PRUSSIA, having rung his bell one day, and nobody answering, opened the door where his servant was usually in waiting, and found him asleep on a sofa. He was going to awake him, when he perceived the end of a billet or letter hanging out of his pocket. Having the curiosity to know its contents, he took and read it, and found it was a letter from his mother, thanking him for having sent her a part of his wages to assist her in her distress, and concluding with beseeching God to bless him for his filial attention to her wants. The king returned softly to his room, took a roller of ducats, and slid them with the letter into the page's pocket. Returning to his apartment he rung so violently, that the page awoke, opened the door and entered. "You have slept well," said the king. The page made an apology, and, in his embarrassment, happened to put his hand in his pocket, and felt with astonishment the roller. He drew it out, turned pale, and looking at the king, burst into tears, without being able to speak a word. "What is the matter?" said

CONDESCENSION OF GOD.

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the king, "What ails you?" "Ah! sire," said the young man, throwing himself at his feet, "somebody has wished to ruin me. I know not how I came by this money in my pocket." "My friend," said FREDERICK, "God often sends us good in our sleep: send the money to your mother; salute her in my name; and assure her that I shall take care of her and you."This story furnishes an excellent instance of the gratitude and duty which children owe to their aged, infirm, or unfortunate parents. And, if the children of such parents shall follow the example of Frederick's servant, though they may not meet with the reward that was conferred on him, they shall be amply recompensed by the pleasing testimony of their own minds, and by that God who approves, as he has commanded, every expression of filial love.

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CONDESCENSION OF GOD

GOD!-what a great and awful word!
O who can speak his worth?
By saints in heav'n he is ador'd,
And fear'd by men on earth;
And yet a little child may bend,
And say, my FATHER and my

FRIEND!

The glorious sun, that blazes high,
The moon, more pale and dim,
And all the stars that fill the sky,
Are made and rul'd by him;

And yet a child may ask his care,
And call upon his name in pray'r!

And this large world of ours below,

The waters and the land,

With all the trees and flowers that grow,
Were fashion'd by his hand;

Yes, and he forms our infant race,
And bids us early seek his face.

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CRUELTY TO ANIMALS REPROVED

Ten thousand angels sing his praise
On high, to harps of gold;
But holy angels dare not gaze,
His brightness to behold:
Yet a poor lowly infant may
Lift up its voice to GOD, and pray!

The saints in heav'n before him fall,
And round his throne appear;
Adam, and Abraham, and all

Who lov'd and serv'd him here:
And I, a child on earth, may raise
My feeble voice in humble praise!

And all his faithful servants now,
The wise, and good, and just,
Before his sacred footstool bow,
And own they are but dust;
But what can I presume to say?
Yet he will hearken when I pray!

O yes;

when little children cry,

He loves their simple pray'r;

His throne of grace is always nigh,

And I will venture there;

I'll go depending on his word,

And seek his grace through CHRIST the LORD.

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS REPROVED.

A YOUNGSTER, whose name we shall conceal, because it is not for his credit it should be known, was amusing himself with a beetle stuck on a pin, and seemed vastly delighted with the gyrations it made, occasioned by the torture it felt. Harley saw this with emotion, for he would not wantonly have injured the most contemptible animal that breathes. He rebuked the unfeeling youth in the following terms; and the impression which the lecture made was never after effaced from his mind: "I am deeply concerned," said he, "to

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